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Best Nursing Snacks For Breastfeeding Moms

October 26, 2024 by Lindsay 23 Comments

These nursing snacks for breastfeeding moms are easy to make ahead of time! Use these postpartum snacks to help keep your body fueled and energized while nursing.

*Originally posted 2/2017. Updated 10/2024*

Hi friends!

I’ve got some healthy breastfeeding snacks to share with you today. Although I’m no longer nursing, I do have three kids and there were several years where I was nursing constantly and was often asked about breastfeeding snacks.

Healthy Postpartum Snacks

When my oldest was born, our breastfeeding journey came to a rapid end. I got mastitis the first week and ended up in the hospital when he was six weeks old with a breast abscess. (You can read more here.) Since our breastfeeding stint was so short, and I was also supplementing with formula, I didn’t get a clear picture as to just how much exclusively breastfeeding affects your body.

Healthy Snacks for Breastfeeding Moms

When my daughter was born, we were able to exclusively breastfeed for 13 months. During that time I was also chasing two kids around and regularly doing CrossFit which involved weightlifting and high-intensity workouts. I quickly learned that I needed to eat A LOT of calories to maintain my weight.

My youngest struggled to gain weight as a baby which meant I spent a lot of time doing triple feeds where I was nursing, pumping and giving him formula which was just as exhausting as it sounds, especially with two other little kids running around.

Breastfeeding women are encouraged to eat an extra 300-500 calories per day.

Best Postpartum Snacks

Finding time to eat can be tough when you have a screaming newborn and a high-energy toddler running around.

Most of the time when meal or snack time rolled around, one of two things was happening:

Everyone needed to eat at the same time so I nursed one while getting food ready for the other two.
The baby was napping and the toddlers needed to eat so I fed them and then ran around trying to get work done or spend one on one time with the other kids while baby slept instead of eating myself.

After a bit of a learning curve, I realized I needed to step up my game a little bit. I needed to make more of an effort to have my fridge, freezer and pantry well-stocked with healthy, calorie-dense snacks that I can eat quickly throughout the day and I needed to prioritize sitting down and eating meals….even when I’m busy or feel like I have a million other things to do.

If you’re pressed for time – which, let’s be honest, what new mom isn’t….storebought snacks are a perfectly acceptable option. I have tons of Best of Storebought Snack lists including:

Healthy Breastfeeding Snacks

So here are some of my favorite make-ahead snacks to have stocked and ready to eat throughout the day while post-partum and nursing:

Easy Snacks For Breastfeeding Moms

Snack Mixes

To make it super easy, buy a bag of trailmix from Costco and portion it out as needed. I love the one that has peanuts, almonds, cashews, raisins and m&ms.

But also remember that it’s pretty quick and easy to make your own with all your favorite things in it!

Think nuts, seeds, popcorn, dried fruit, chocolate chips, cereal, bite-sized crackers etc. Most snack mixes don’t require a recipe but here are a few I specifically love:

brestfeeding mom snacks - yogurt parfaits

Breastfeeding Mom Snacks

Yogurt with Toppings

Try full-fat plain yogurt or Greek yogurt and top with a handful of oat-based granola or cereal for some crunch, fresh fruit for sweetness and nuts/seeds for healthy fats (a sprinkle of ground flaxseed mixed in would be a great addition.

A few other options:

Mush overnight oats and Mamma Chia are good storebought options.

Good Breastfeeding Snacks

Energy Balls

These are so easy to make and perfect for stocking your freezer. Make a double batch and freeze them so you can pull out one or two out to eat quickly. To make your life even easier, skip rolling them into individual balls- just press the mixture into a pan, refrigerate for a couple hours and then cut into bars.

Here are some energy ball recipes to try:

These also make a good kid snack so you can make some for yourself and share. For more ideas check out these 15 Kid-Friendly Protein Energy Balls – No Protein Powder Required.

Easy Postpartum Snacks

Granola or Protein Bars

I make these No-Bake Protein Bars all the time as a homemade version of store-bought protein bars. You can also try these Gingerbread Protein Balls.

If you’re looking for storebought ideas, I like:

KIND Bars
Rx Bars
Perfect Bars
Larabars
Go Macro
88 Acres is a great option if you need something nut-free.

Lactation Snack Recipes

There are a few foods that are known to help increase breast milk production. These include things like whole grains (especially oats), leafy green veggies, nuts, ginger, flax, brewer’s yeast and blackstrap molasses.

Lactation Cookies

I’ve been eating a couple of these each day for a quick snack or dessert. This is my recipe for Dairy-Free Lactation Cookies and there are tons of other variations out there!

If you prefer store-bought you can check out Milky Mamas.

Other Snacks To Boost Milk Supply

Other snacks using some of these ingredients include:

Good Breastfeeding Snacks

Egg Wraps

These egg wraps are easy to make ahead of time. with turkey and guac or hummus. I make up 8-10 on Sundays to have on hand throughout the week. You can eat them warm or cold and add things like turkey, cheese, guacamole, etc. They’re easy to eat one-handed and packed with protein!

Egg Waffles are another great option! Or make a batch of egg muffins like these Easy Cottage Cheese Egg Muffins.

Best Snacks For Nursing Mothers

Muffins/Bars

When you’re making things like muffins, bars, pancakes, waffles, etc….always always make a double batch to stock your freezer. Just pull them out and thaw on the counter as needed.

Some favorites of mine are:

Need more ideas for healthy snacks while breastfeeding?

Hummus with carrots or chips (bonus points if you make this greek hummus topping too!)
Apple slices with peanut butter
Frozen pb banana sandwiches (put a little pb between two slices of banana and freeze)
Tuna salad stuffed mini peppers (cut peppers in half, stuff with mix of tuna + avocado or hummus + salsa)
PB toast or waffle with peanut butter (I like these Banana Flax Waffles– i make a batch to freeze then just grab one and pop it in the toaster)
Pudding – try this PB banana version or this chocolate avocado pudding recipe
Cold leftovers – I like these Thai Chicken Meatballs or Tuna Quinoa Cakes or Chicken Avocado Burgers straight out of the fridge
Smoothies- did you know you can make a big batch and freeze them in mason jars. Then just microwave to thaw as needed. Here are some of the Best Smoothie Recipes.

That’s all for today! Keep in mind these healthy make-ahead snacks are great for everyone, not just nursing moms! I also have a post of Healthy Freezer Snacks that might be helpful!

These Make-Ahead Snacks For Breastfeeding Moms are easy, healthy recipes to help keep your body fueled and energized while nursing.

Let’s chat:

What are the best postpartum snacks in your opinion?

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Healthy High Protein Snack Ideas

October 25, 2024 by Lindsay Leave a Comment

Looking for the best healthy high-protein snacks that kids and adults will love? Here are some of my top picks as a Registered Dietitian for high protein snacks that are low carb, vegan and more.

healthy high protein snack ideas - storebought

*Originally published 4/2023. Updated 10/2024*

Hi friends! We are continuing our best of store-bought snack series! We’ve already covered several stores and categories so be sure to check them out if you missed them the first time!

If you’re looking for store-specific snacks check out:

For specific categories, check out:

Today we’re talking about high protein snack ideas because it’s a frequently requested topic! So let’s talk a little bit about protein and why I think it’s so important as a Registered Dietitian.

FAQs about Best High Protein Snack Ideas To Buy

Why is Protein Important for a snack?

Protein is essential for our body. Proteins are made up of amino acids which our body uses in all sorts of ways! Protein isn’t just for building muscles, it’s also important in lots of chemical reactions such as digestion and energy production.

What are the benefits of high-protein snacks?

High-protein snacks can help us stay fuller longer. Protein does not cause spikes in blood sugar like carbohydrates can so pairing carbs with protein, fiber and healthy fats is important for maintaining steady blood glucose levels and increasing satiety. High-protein snacks can also be important after a workout to help build muscle and speed up muscle recovery.

Are All High Protein Snacks Healthy?

Unfortunately, not all high-protein snacks are created equal. It’s best to check the nutrition label and try to find the simplest ingredients you can. When looking for high-protein snacks I look for those that have a decent amount of protein but are also not too high in added sugar or sodium. Many high-protein snacks contain sugar alcohols as well which can be difficult to digest so be sure to look out for those if that’s a concern for you.

Simple Fast High Protein Snacks

Why Eat High Protein Snacks?

Protein is the building block for our muscles and is essential in many bodily functions. Protein also slows digestion which helps reduce blood sugar spikes and keeps us full and satisfied for longer while providing our bodies with the energy we need.

How much protein should a snack have?

Anywhere from 8-16 grams of protein is good for a snack. It doesn’t have to be from one food either. Combining foods like peanut butter toast, crackers & hummus, or yogurt & granola, are an easy way to bump up the protein.

What snacks are high in protein?

Snacks that are made with animal products tend to be good sources of protein. This includes things like dairy products, meat, seafood, cheese, eggs. There are also vegan snacks that are high in protein like edamame, nuts, seeds etc. Carbohydrate snacks made with whole grains can also have a decent amount of protein.

Easy Snacks High In Protein

Now let’s get to the snacks! There’s no hard and fast rule for what constitutes high protein and as always, people will have differening opinions. But hopefully this list will give you a starting point and some new ideas for high protein snacks to try!

High Protein Low Fat Snacks

Some snacks listed below can fall into multiple categories. For example, some snacks like tuna or deli meat can also be considered high-protein and low-fat snacks but we have them below in the high protein/low carb category because they fit there as well. If you are looking to bump up the fiber pairing these snacks with a complex carbohydrate (granola, whole grain bread, crackers) is a great option too.

So what snacks are high in protein but low in fat?

Here are some ideas:

Too Good Vanilla Low-fat Greek Yogurt (12g protein, 3g car, 0g fiber, 2g sugar) *stevia sweetened
Good Culture 2% Low Fat Cottage Cheese (19g protein, 0g fiber, 3g sugar)
Fage Non Fat Greek Yogurt (16g protein, 5g fiber, 0g fiber, 5g sugar
Siggis Vanilla Yogurt (16g protein, 0g fiber, 9g sugar *5g added sugar)
Chobani Less sugar yogurt (12g protein, 1g fiber, 5g added sugar)
Applegate precooked chicken strips (23g protein, 0g fiber, 0g sugar)
Fuel for fire fruit smoothies (10g protein, 0g fiber, 0g added sugar) *aff link
Pictsweet Farms Steam’ables Edamame (7g protein, 3g fiber, 2g sugar)

best high protein snack images - Whole grains

Best High Protein Whole Grains

These high-protein grains are a great way to increase your protein while adding some fiber to your day. Grains have inherently less protein than meat/dairy products, but these options are great sources of protein for this category and are even better when paired with another protein source!

Kodiak Cakes Power Waffles +many flavors or pancake/waffle mix (12g protein, 3g fiber, 27g carb, 5g added sugar)
RX High Protein Oatmeal (12g protein, 6g fiber, 7g sugar, 0g added sugar)
Mary’s Gone Crackers Super Seed Crackers + another protein source (5g protein, 3g fiber, 0g sugar)
Purely Elizabeth Granola Vanilla Almond Butter-Grain free, gluten-free, vegan! ( 6g protein, 3g fiber, 5g added sugars)
Dave’s Killer 21 Whole Grain and Seeds Organic Loaf (5g protein, 5g fiber, 5g added sugar)
Purely Elizabeth collagen protein oats (9g protein, 5g fiber, 6g added sugar)
Snow Days Pizza Bites -note that these are actually grain-free! (7g protein, 5g fiber, 2g sugar)

High Protein Low Carb Snacks (10 carbs or less)

If you are looking for a snack that is high in protein but lower in carbs, we’ve got you covered! Many of these snacks are also great options if you are gluten-free too.

P3 Portable Protein Snack Park with Turkey, Almonds, & Colby Jack Cheese (11g protein, 4g carb, 1g fiber, 1g sugar)
Chomp Meat Sticks (9g protein, 0g carb, 0g sugars)
Good & Gather Sweet & Spicy Tuna (14g protein, 1g fiber, 4g added sugar)
StarKist Wild Caught Light Tuna (17g protein, 0g fiber, 0g sugar)
Wild Planet Wild Tuna, Bean, and Corn Salad (16g protein, 8g fiber, 3g added sugar)
Hard Boiled Eggs (6g protein, 0g fiber, 0g sugar)
Egglife Egg Wraps (5g protein, 0g fiber, 0g sugar)
Organic Valley Feta & Chive Egg Bites (14g protein, 0g fiber, 1g sugar)
Sargento Balanced Breaks White Cheddar, Roasted Almonds & Dried Cranberries (7g protein, 2g fiber, 8g added sugar)
Plainville Farms Oven Roasted Chicken Breast (10g protein, 0g fiber, 0g sugar)
Dietz & Watson Applewood Smoked Turkey Breast (11g protein, 0g fiber, 0g sugar)
Sargento Natural Mozzarella String Cheese (7g protein, 0g carb, 0g sugar)
Wisps Cheese Crisps +many flavors (9g protein, 0g fiber, 0g sugar)

high protein vegan snacks - non-dairy high protein snacks

Best High Protein Vegan Snacks // High Protein Vegetarian Snacks

Who says plants can’t be high in protein too? These vegan protein snacks are great if you looking to increase your plant-based protein sources. Nuts and Seeds are great sources of vegan protein. We’ve included a few vegan protein bars in our protein bar section below too!

Good & Gather Raw Mixed Nuts (6g protein, 7g carb, 2g fiber, 1g sugar)
Go Raw Sprouted Organic Pumpkin Seeds Sea Salt (8g protein, 4g carb, 3g fiber 0g sugar)
The Only Bean– Crunchy Roasted Edamame Beans with Sea Salt (14g protein, 5g fiber, 2g sugar)
Biena Roasted Chickpeas with Sea Salt (6g protein, 6g fiber, <1g sugar)
Crazy Richards 100% All Natural Creamy Peanut Butter-pair with Dave’s killer bread (8g protein, 3g fiber, 2g sugar)
Protein Power Ball Mint Dark Chocolate (6g protein, 2g fiber, 6g sugar)
Siete Frozen Almound Flour Tortilla (6g protein, 3g fiber, 1g sugar)
Seapoint Farms dry roasted edamame (14g protein, 6g fiber, 1g sugar)
Califia Farms Protein Oat Milk (8g protein, 1g fiber, 3g added sugar)
Enjoy Life Enjoy Bites Dark Raspberry– Gluten & Nut Free (6g protein, 3g fiber, 11g sugar, 5g added sugar)
Sabara Hummus + Mary’s Gone Super Seed Crackers (7g protein, 4g fiber, 0g sugar)
Bada Bean Bada Boom Roast Broad Fava Beans (6g protein, 4g fiber, 1g added sugar)
Beyond Meat Plant-based Teriyaki Jerky (10g protein, 2g fiber, 5g added sugar)
Louisville Vegan Jerky Smoked Black Pepper (7g protein, 2g fiber, <1g sugar)

healthy high protein snacks - protein bars

Healthy High Protein Snacks-Protein Snack Bars

It can be hard to find protein bars that are high in protein, low in added sugar, and have simple ingredients. Sometimes you have to weigh the trade-off of getting a little more added sugar with simpler ingredients. We have included a few of our favorite options for you!

RX Bars (12g protein, 23g carb, 5g fiber, 13g sugar 0g added sugar)
Epic Chicken Protein Bars (11g protein, 3g carbs, 2g fiber, 0g added sugars)
Go Macro Macro Bars + other flavors-Vegan! (11g protein, 36g carbs, 11g added sugar)
Aloha Organic Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Protein Bars-Vegan!(14g protein, 20g carb, 3g fiber, 13g sugar)
Cascadian Farm Organic Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate Protein Bars (12g protein, 2g fiber, 19g carb, 11g added sugar)
Clif Nut Butter Bars-Vegan! (7g protein, 27g carb, 3g fiber, 6g added sugar)
KIND Protein Bars Double Chocolate-Vegan (12g protein, 18g carbs, 5g fiber, 6g added sugar)
Bob’s Bars – PB Honey and Oat -Vegan! (8g protein, 3g fiber, 9g added sugar)

Best High Protein Low Calorie Snacks

A popular search term in this category is high protein/low calories snacks. I don’t count calories or macros so I’m not listing options for this category but I’m sure there are other lists out there.

I do want to encourage you to remember that when calories are removed they are often replaced with artificial ingredients or sweeteners. In my opinion, it is less important to focus on calories and more important to focus on high-protein snacks that are well-balanced. These snacks keep you full and satisfied while giving your body the energy it needs to tackle the day.

Healthy Snacks For Diabetics

High Protein Low Sugar Snacks

My husband is a Type 1 diabetic so I’m always on the hunt for snack ideas for him that are high in protein and low in sugar? Some of his favorites are:

Hard-boiled eggs
Turkey and cheese roll-ups
Nut-based trail mix
Tuna salad with crackers
Beef sticks
Cottage cheese
Roasted Chickpeas

High Protein Smoothie Snacks

Smoothies are a great way to pack a lot of protein into a snack. Whether it’s thanks to the addition of protein powder, or thanks to packing in a lot of high-protein ingredients, smoothies can be a great high-protein snack option.

Here are some recipes to get you started:

Dairy-free High Protein Snacks

If you’re looking for dairy-free high protein snacks, remember that all vegan snacks will be dairy-free so that’s an easy place to start.

Other dairy-free snack ideas:

Roasted nuts and seeds
Tuna
Eggs
Jerky
Deli Meat
Egg Wraps
Steamed edamame
Lentil dip with whole grain crackers
Smoothies made with plant-based milk and protein powder

Gluten-Free High Protein Snacks

And if you’re looking for gluten-free snack ideas, I have a whole post full of ideas:

Best Healthy Gluten-Free Snacks

healthy at-work and after work snack ideas

Good Protein Snacks For Work

If you need snack ideas for at work and after work, I have a whole post about that full of lots of high protein ideas:

At Work & After Work Snacks

On The Go Protein Snacks

If you’re headed off on a road trip, traveling for work or just spending a lot of time commuting, you make be looking for healthy protein snacks on the go. I wrote a whole post with some of my favorite road trip snacks that are great for travel:

Healthy Road Trip Snacks

Protein Snacks Meal Prep

One thing that I think is important to remember is that a snack is really just a small meal. So if you have a favorite high-protein meal, especially one you can prep ahead of time, you can just eat a smaller portion of it for a snack!

I have a great roundup of meal prep lunch ideas of any of them would work for a quick snack. Prep a few ahead of time and enjoy them for a quick snack.

Healthy Meal Prep Lunches

Best Store Bought Protein Snacks

Looking for the best healthy high-protein snacks that kids and adults will love? Here are some of my top picks as a Registered Dietitian for high protein snacks that are low carb, vegan and more.

What are your favorite high protein snacks?

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Easy 5 Ingredient Christmas Crack

October 24, 2024 by Lindsay 1 Comment

This easy 5 ingredient Christmas crack is so easy to make and it’s the perfect addition to any holiday cookie tray!

*Originally published 11/2023. Updated 10/2024*

Hi friends!

This Easy 5 Ingredient Christmas Crack is an absolute must-try this holiday season. This is always a throwback to Christmas growing up for me because my mom made something similar when I was growing up.

She topped hers with slivered almonds but I prefer mine with chopped pecans and something to make it a little more festive, like holiday sprinkles or red and green m&ms.

Graham Cracker Christmas Crack Recipe

If you prefer graham crackers as the base, you could substitute them for the saltines in this recipe.

Christmas Crack Toffee

This recipe is also similar to another favorite of mine: Graham Cracker Toffee Bars. In that recipe, I use graham crackers as the base and top them with butter, bits of store-bought toffee and chocolate. It’s definitely a must-try for the holidays.

Christmas Crack Candy with Saltines

This recipe uses the more traditional base of saltine crackers and you make your own toffee layer by combining butter and brown sugar.

easy 5 ingredient Christmas Crack recipe

What is Christmas Crack?

A delicious treat made with just a few simple ingredients: saltine crackers, butter, brown sugar, chocolate chips and chopped pecans. If you’re feeling festive, add some holiday sprinkles as well!

If you’re looking to make these gluten-free you can try Glutino Table Crackers. (aff link)

Why is it called Christmas crack?

The name Christmas crack comes because once this treat is fully hardened, you can crack it into pieces and then hear a satisfying crack when you bite into it!

How To Make Christmas Crack

This recipe is so easy anyone can make it!

Line a baking tray with foil and lay out 30 saltines in 5 rows of 6.
In a small saucepan, melt the butter and chocolate chips.
Stir constantly for 5 minutes over low heat so it’s well mixed and slightly thickened.
Pour the mixture over the saltines, using a pastry brush to make sure all the crackers are covered.
Bake for a few minutes.
Top with chocolate chips and return to the oven for 1 minute.
Spread the chocolate chips into a layer of chocolate.
Top with chopped nuts and sprinkles.
Let harden completely then break into pieces.

What are the best Christmas Crack toppings?

You can really top this with whatever you’d like! Chopped nuts are one of the most traditional toppings – slivered almonds, pecans, walnuts or even peanuts would be good.

Holiday sprinkles help make it festive if it’s that time of the year.

You could also drizzle with melted white chocolate or make a s’mores version with mini marshmallows.

Easy Christmas Crack Recipe

Here’s how you make it:

Easy 5 Ingredient Christmas Crack

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5 from 1 review

This easy 5 ingredient Christmas crack is so easy to make and it’s the perfect addition to any holiday cookie tray!

Author: Lindsay

Ingredients

Scale

30 saltine crackers
8 Tbsp butter
2/3 cup brown sugar
2 cups chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped pecans
sprinkles if desired

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Instructions

Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and place saltines in 5 rows of 6 so the edges are touching.
In a small pan over medium heat, combine butter and sugar, stirring until the butter is melted.
Let it bubble lightly while stirring for 3-4 minutes.
Pour over saltine crackers and use a pastry brush to make sure all crackers are covered.
Bake at 400 degrees for 5 minutes.
Remove from the oven and sprinkle chocolate chips all over the top.
Return to the oven for 1 minute.
Spread melty chocolate chips all over the top to make a layer of chocolate.
Top with chopped nuts and sprinkles.
Let cool completely until the chocolate hardens (I put mine in the fridge for an hour), then break into pieces and serve.
Store in the fridge.

Best Christmas Crack Recipe FAQs

Can you freeze Christmas crack?

Yes! Break into pieces and store in a freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months.

How to store Christmas crack?

I store mine in an airtight container in the refrigerator. If you live somewhere cold, you can also put it in a tin and store it in your garage (that’s what my mom used to do).

How long does Christmas crack last?

It should be fine in the fridge or somewhere cold for a week or two!

Can you freeze Christmas crack?

Yes! Let it cool completely, then place between layers of parchment paper in freezer-safe container or bag. Remove and let thaw on the counter when you’re ready to eat it.

Does Christmas crack need to be refrigerated?

Technically no, but I think it’s best to store somewhere cold. It will keep the layers cold, keeps the chocolate from melting and give you that nice crack when you bite into it.

Can I use parchment paper for Christmas crack?

Yes. I typically use aluminum foil but parchment paper will also work. If you crinkle it into a ball before spreading it out it will lay better for you in the pan.

Christmas Crack Variations

Can you make Christmas crack with Ritz crackers?

Yes! Those have a more butter taste so it will make the Christmas crack even richer-tasting. You can also use graham crackers. Totally up to you.

Can you make Christmas crack with pretzel thins?

I haven’t tried this but think it would be delicious! Definitely put down to line the pan since the preztel thins have holes in them so some of the butter mixture is going to go through those holes but it will be fine once it hardens.

Can you make Christmas crack with white sugar?

You can. It will change the recipe slightly but it’s worth trying. You may prefer it one way over the other.

How do you make gluten-free Christmas crack?

Just look for gluten-free crackers. Several brands make gluten-free graham crackers ( I like Pamela’s Gluten-Free Honey Grahams) or try a gluten-free cracker that’s more similar to saltines like these from Glutino.

Or make your own! Try these homemade Gluten-Free Crackers.

Can you make Christmas Crack with peanut butter?

After you take the crackers out of the oven and add the chocolate chips, add a few drizzles of natural peanut butter as well. Once the chocolate chips are melty, spread everything out evenly over the crackers.

Can you make a Christmas crack no chocolate version?

Sure! Just leave the chocolate off. Add some chopped nuts right after you pour the butter and sugar mixture over the crackers and bake! Here’s a no chocolate Christmas crack recipe using graham crackers for Praline Crack.

This easy 5 ingredient Christmas crack is so easy to make and it's the perfect addition to any holiday cookie tray!

Holiday Cookie Recipes

Need more ideas for your cookie tray? Try:

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Chewy Gingerbread Cookies

October 23, 2024 by Lindsay 2 Comments

These soft and chewy gingerbread cookies are a must-make addition to your holiday cookie trays! Fun to make and oh so delicious!

*Originally published 11/2023. Updated 10/2024*

Hi friends!

If you love the flavor of gingerbread but crunchy cutout gingerbread men are not for you, this recipe is a must-try! These soft and chewy gingerbread cookies are perfectly spiced, slightly crisp around the edges and soft & chewy in the middle.

Rolling them in sugar adds the perfect hint of sweetness to the outside and pulling them out of your oven is sure to make it feel like the holidays.

When I was growing up, my mom would make dozens and dozens of different types of Christmas cookies and then assemble cookie plates for all of our friends. These would be the perfect addition to holiday cookie trays. They’re not delicate, they add that traditional holiday flavor without all the work of cutting out and decorating gingerbread men and they’re super easy to whip up!

Chewy Gingerbread Cookies Recipe Variations

Before we dive into the actual recipe, here are a few variations and modifications that people have asked about:

How To Make Chewy Ginger Cookies Gluten Free?

To make these cookies gluten-free, just substitute the regular flour with your favorite 1:1 gluten-free flour blend. I like King Arthur’s Measure for Measure.

How To Make These Soft Gingerbread Cookies Vegan?

To make this recipe vegan, use a flax egg for the egg in the recipe. Here’s how to make a flax egg.

How To Make White Chocolate Dipped Chewy Gingerbread Cookies

These cookies would be great dipped in white chocolate. I love Ghirardelli Melting Wafers. To make things extra festive around the holidays, you can dip part of the cookie in white chocolate, then add holiday sprinkles.

How To Make Soft Gingerbread Cookie Sandwiches

These cookies would be perfect for making gingerbread cookie sandwiches and there are lots of options for the cream filling in the middle. You can make marshmallow buttercream like in these Ginger Sandwich Cookies or browned butter cream cheese frosting like in these Gingerbread Sandwich Cookies. Or try a cinnamon buttercream like in these Soft Gingerdoodle Cookies.

Soft Gingerbread Cookies with Molasses Ingredients

Here are some of the key ingredients you’ll need to make these cookies:

Butter – Softened and unsalted
Brown sugar- this helps make the cookies chewy versus crunchy
Molasses – To help achieve that classic gingerbread flavor
Cornstarch – A secret ingredient to help make these soft and chewy!

How To Make Gingerbread Cookie Dough

To make this dough, all you need is an electric mixer and one bowl!

Cream the softened butter and brown sugar for a couple minutes.
Add the egg, molasses and vanilla.
Then add the flour plus baking soda, baking powder, cornstarch, salt and ginger and mix until a dough forms.
Use a cookie scoop to scoop balls of dough and roll them in granulated sugar.
Bake for 12-14 minutes and enjoy!

Soft Gingerbread Cookies Recipe

Here’s the exact recipe!

Chewy Gingerbread Cookies

Print Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

5 from 1 review

A soft and chewy gingerbread cookie recipe that gives you that delicious gingerbread flavor without all the work of cutting out and decorating gingerbread men!

Author: Lindsay
Yield: 2 dozen cookies 1x

Ingredients

Scale

½ cup butter, softened
1 cup brown sugar
1 large egg
1/4 cup molasses
1 tsp vanilla
2 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground ginger
granulated sugar for rolling

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Instructions

In a large bowl, combine softened butter and brown sugar and cream with an electric mixer for 2 minutes.
Add an egg, molasses and vanilla and beat to combine.
Add flour, ginger, baking soda, baking powder, cornstarch and salt and mix until just combined.
Scoop and roll into balls, then roll in granulated sugar.
Bake at 350 degrees for 12-14 minutes.

Chewy Gingerbread Cookies FAQs

How to store chewy gingerbread cookies?

Store these cookies in an airtight container for 5-7 days on the counter. Or in a cookie tin in the garage or on the porch if it’s cold.

Can you freeze gingerbread cookie dough?

Yes you can. Make the dough and roll into balls. When ready to eat, roll in sugar and and bake. You may need to extend the cooking time by a few minutes.

Can you freeze chewy gingerbread cookies?

Yes! Bake the cookies, let them cool completely and then store in a ziploc or freezer-safe bag!

Are these no chill gingerbread cookies?

Yep! No chilling is required. Just make and bake.

Can you make this a chewy chocolate gingerbread cookie recipe?

Yes! I would start by adding 1/4 cup cocoa powder and increase from there until you reach your desired level of chocolate flavor. You could also throw in some chocolate chips or pieces of chopped dark chocolate if you wanted to.

How to make soft gingerbread cookies?

Using brown sugar instead of white sugar helps because it has more moisture. This recipe also uses a mix of baking soda and baking powder which helps. And I add a teaspoon of cornstarch which can also make the cookies soft.

What’s the trick for making gooey gingerbread cookies?

If you want the cookies to be a little bit gooey, under-bake them. I would take them out at 9 or 10 minutes.

Soft Gingerbread Men Cookies Recipe

Chewy Gingerbread Cutout Cookies

If you’re looking to make soft gingerbread men cookies, here are a few recipes to check out:

These recipes are designed to have the dough rolled out and cut into shapes and then maintain their shape once baked, while also staying soft.

Do you have more gingerbread recipes?

Here are some of my favorites:

What’s the best icing for gingerbread cookies?

Try Royal Icing for an icing that’s easy to make and will set hard so your decorating will stay put. Here’s a video on how to decorate gingerbread cookies with royal icing.

Best Chewy Gingerbread Cookie Recipe

These soft and chewy gingerbread cookies are a must-make addition to your holiday cookie trays! Fun to make and oh so delicious!

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Healthy Meal Prep Lunch Ideas

October 16, 2024 by Lindsay 1 Comment

These healthy meal prep lunch ideas are perfect for lunch at work or home. Make them ahead of time and enjoy all week long.

*Originally published 2/23. Updated 10/24.*

Hi friends!

Lots of you have been asking for healthy meal prep lunch ideas lately so ask and you shall receive! Last week when I launched my Mastering Food Prep course, I shared a lot about my flexible food prep method for lunches. I’m a big fan of prepping 1-2 proteins, 1-2 bases and 2-3 sauces and then mixing and matching throughout the week to make different lunches. You can find an example of 4 quick and easy meal prep ideas for work in this post.

Weekly Meal Prep Lunch Ideas

While some people enjoy packing a different lunch every day, other people are looking for one recipe they can prep ahead of time and enjoy for lunch all week long. If you want to add some variety to these ideas you can make swaps like using rice as a base instead of lettuce, putting meat in a pita one day instead of on a salad, or making half the batch vegetarian and half with meat.

If you’re looking specifically for cold lunches, check out these Easy Meal Prep Cold Lunches for Work! And here are some Breakfast Meal Prep Ideas.

Best Work Lunch Meal Prep FAQs

What proteins are good for meal prep?

Some of my favorite proteins to meal prep are chicken, steak and ground turkey. Hard boiled eggs also hold up well all week and things like beans and lentils are great for meal prep because they continue to absorb the flavors of the things around them throughout the week.

How long does meal prep last in the fridge?

Most things are good in the fridge for about 4 days. You can make larger batches and freeze half to help avoid things spoiling in the fridge and then they’re ready to just pull out and thaw mid-week or whenever you need them.

How often should you meal prep?

Meal prep is a great addition to your weekly routine. If trying to prep everything for the work week all at once overwhelms you, break it up and do some on Sunday and then a smaller prep session on Wednesday to help you finish out the week.

Can you meal prep all of your meals for the week?

Most people don’t find it effective to prep every single thing you’re going to eat all week ahead of time. Instead, focus on your trouble spots. Pick 1-2 recipes the prep ahead of time and use those to make packing your lunch each day quick and easy. This frees up more time for you to focus on cooking dinner or making a healthy breakfast to start the day!

Easy Healthy Meal Prep Lunch Ideas

Here we go! Remember if you don’t like a specific protein, in most cases, you can easily swap it for another type of meal or a vegetarian protein source to fit your needs.

Meal Prep Lunch Ideas with Chicken

Chicken recipes are by far the most popular request from readers. Chicken easily absorbs the flavors of sauces and marinades and they only deepen throughout the week.

Simple Chicken Marinade for Meal Prep

Prep a batch of this chicken pair it with a quinoa salad, put it in a pita or serve it with veggies.